Concentration Timeline

Last week, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences announced that the College likely offer a concentration in Theater, Design, and Media next fall. Though the addition of a new concentration is exciting, it’s not the first time it has happened—Harvard was not created with all 48 concentrations, but rather added them throughout the years. With the declaration date for sophomores looming on the metaphorical horizon (lookin’ at you, prospective English concentrators), FM has thoughtfully compiled a chronology of the addition of concentrations through the ages.

1906: History and Literature.

The first concentration ever, created by Professor Barrett Wendell, and fueled by a couple of drinks in a tavern (the same could probably be said for students who chose to participate in it).

1920s: English, Romance Languages, Fine Arts, Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry, Classics, Government, Literature, Psychology, Social Ethics, Astronomy, Economics, Geology, German Languages, Music, Philosophy, and Physics.

For the people who saw Hist. and Lit. thesis writers, and wanted to run in the other direction. Any direction.

1931: Sociology.  

Simple cause and effect: Freud publishes “Civilization and its Discontents” in 1929, Harvard creates a concentration to fix the world.

1933: Slavic Language and Literature.

Because nothing says “Great Depression” better than Russian literature!

1960: Social Studies.

You have to cater to the indecisive crowd at some point…

1967: Folklore and Mythology.

Coincidentally the last time the Loch Ness Monster was sighted. Legend has it he’s dorming beneath the Eliot Bridge, still trying to think of a thesis topic to this day (personal memoir doesn’t count).

1968: Visual and Environmental Studies.

There’s no accident that its creation coincided with the release of classic films like “Romeo and Juliet,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” and “Planet of the Apes.” What’s the fun in boasting alumni with Nobel Prizes when you can have an Oscar instead?

1970: Special Concentration.

If Folklore and Mythology wasn’t out there enough for you. Nessie’s considering switching.

1974: Comparative Religion.

Also the year of “People” magazine. The relevance of both are still being contested.

1981: Computer Science.

Given the size of the machines back then, office hours must have been crowded.

1988: Women’s Studies.

Trickled down in response to Reagan, but not in the way he expected.

1992: Environmental Science and Public Policy.

Just in case Reagan was not sufficiently pissed.

2006: Chemical and Physical Biology, Human Evolutionary Biology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Organismic and Evolutionary Biology.

Sex ed suddenly makes a lot more sense.

2012: Mechanical Engineering.

Because Harvard is known for being at the forefront of structural innovation.